Rehan Naqvi Keynote Speaker

Energy transition and CCUS strategist
Published CO2-capture researcher (360+ citations)
PhD (NTNU) + MSc (KTH) + Grad Dip (LSE)

Rehan Naqvi's Biography

Rehan Naqvi is an energy transition strategist and CCUS specialist known for bringing clarity, realism, and human insight to some of the most complex challenges facing the global energy system. With more than fifteen years of post-PhD experience across Shell, Technology Centre Mongstad, Siemens, KBR, and most recently bp, he has advised senior leaders on low-carbon strategy, investment decisions, technology selection, and the design of integrated decarbonisation pathways.

Rehan’s expertise spans carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS), hydrogen technologies and value chains, CCUS hubs, thermal power generation, net-zero pathways, techno-economic assessment frameworks, and energy system integration. In addition to advisory work, he has built organisational capability by designing and delivering training programmes for technical and commercial teams, helping organisations translate complex analysis into practical decision-making.

Highly regarded for his story-driven and engaging speaking style, Rehan has delivered executive briefings, webinars, and leadership sessions across global organisations, notably bp and KBR. His talks are recognised for making complex technical and strategic issues accessible without oversimplification, enabling audiences to engage with uncertainty, trade-offs, and risk with confidence.

Alongside his industry work, Rehan has extensive experience as a keynote speaker in large-scale community, academic, and cultural settings across North America, the United Kingdom, and Europe, addressing audiences of up to 3,000 people. These engagements have strengthened his ability to connect with diverse audiences and to speak with authority, empathy, and cultural sensitivity.

Rehan holds a PhD in Energy and Process Engineering from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, specialising in carbon capture from thermal power plants, a Master’s degree in Sustainable Energy Engineering from KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, and a Graduate Diploma in International Relations from the London School of Economics. He is based in London and works internationally.

The energy transition without illusions

A clear, systems-level look at the energy transition, moving beyond slogans to examine economic realities, security of supply, and the trade-offs organisations and societies must navigate.

The role of CCUS in credible Net Zero pathways

An exploration of where carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) fits within the wider decarbonisation landscape, why it is essential for hard-to-abate sectors, and how organisations can think realistically about implementation and impact

Leadership and decision making in complex transitions

A closer look at why the hardest challenges in large-scale change are rarely technical, and how leaders can make better decisions when uncertainty, competing priorities, and organisational change collide.

Human behaviour, risk, and silence during organisational change

A practitioner’s perspective on how risk emerges during restructurings and transformations, focusing on clarity, ownership, and the human factors that often sit outside formal plans

Technology, society, and meaning in times of disruption

A reflective talk on how technological change reshapes institutions, identities, and trust, and what leaders can do to remain grounded while navigating rapid transformation

He has advised senior leaders across Shell, Technology Centre Mongstad, Siemens, KBR and bp on low-carbon strategy, investment decisions and integrated decarbonisation pathways.
He translates complex transition choices across CCUS, hydrogen value chains and energy system integration into clear decisions leaders can take with confidence.
He brings PhD-level engineering rigour and practical industry insight to technology selection, techno-economic assessment and credible net-zero pathways.
He is a story-driven keynote speaker and facilitator, delivering executive briefings, webinars and leadership sessions that make technical and strategic issues accessible without oversimplification.
His sessions help organisations build capability across technical and commercial teams, strengthening how they evaluate trade-offs, manage risk and turn analysis into action.

Comments & Testimonials

"Rehan led the refresh of the CCUS technology strategy and presented it to the governance board with clarity, delivering significant improvements to CO2 capture cost models. He made a strong impact in a short period of time through the way he engaged stakeholders and peers, and through a clear, story-driven communication style that captures audiences and enables him to influence senior leaders."

Dr Anastasia Vaia Director of Engineering, Strategy, Portfolio and PMO at Rolls-Royce (Former VP, CCUS and Hydrogen at bp)

“Rehan delivered two CCS Forum sessions that were both informative and engaging, attracting a large audience across the organisation. One session, attended by 103 participants, provided a very useful introduction to an important topic, that helped increase the knowledge level of our community. Across both talks, the high-level narrative was entertaining, informative, and thought provoking, sparking extensive questions and follow up discussions that reflects the strong interest and value people found in his presentations.”

Chris Walker, Ph.D. bp US Low Carbon Subsurface Manager & Global CCS Forum convenor